SEAN KEENAN

SOCIAL SNAPS

The 24-year-old Puberty Blues and Glitch actor tells WHO’S Cynthia Wang about his star turn as erratic teacher John Grant in the 2017 telemovie adaptation of Wake in Fright.

Had you read Kenneth Cook’s 1961 novel or seen the 1971 film adaptation prior to this?

No, but I was shooting Newton’s Law and the prop master— we were shooting outside an op-shop and he was rustling through the Dvds—pulled it out and was talking to me about, “Have you seen this movie? It’s incredible.” That afternoon, I got the audition, so I watched it and I was like, “I need this part.”

What attracted you most about John Grant?

He goes through these highs and lows, the entire human existence, in six days. Then there’s the serious level of intoxication that he reaches, and as it’s a contemporary story, there are the drugs now involved, the new poison of Australia. It was a trial by fire, and it was great.

Was it tense all the time on-set?

Between takes there was a lot of laughing and joking. David [ Wenham] loves to laugh, he’s very funny, and he loves to prank.

Did he play any pranks on you?

No, but he’s very smart and he’s had years of practice. I think he knew I was going through hell enough as it was!

Recalling your school days, what did you love to study?

Science. I used to take apart remote-control cars and put them back together, and build robots.

The conclusion of ‘Wake in Fright’ airs Sun., Oct. 15 at 8.30 PM on Ten.